What is Back and Lay in Betting?

Alisa Barladyan
09 Dec 2025
19:47

While I was exploring the football betting options on a betting site, I came across two terms. They were back and lay. Some say back high, and some say lay low. But I often wondered, what is back and lay in betting? These were two common terms that I found in cricket betting too but didn’t know their meaning.

But later I got to know that these are two types of betting strategies that we can place on the games. And these were mostly dependent on the price movement of the games. And once you get to know about "lay" and "back" meaning in betting and the wager types, the sky is the limit. 

Sports betting India homepage
Betting odds market

"Back" and "lay" meaning in cricket betting is very simple. As the name suggests, "Back" means to bet on a team and support its outcome. For example, you are backing India to win the game. "Lay," on the other hand, is to bet against the outcome of the team. For example, you are betting on India not to win the match.

So, if you are thinking about what "back" and "lay" are in cricket betting, this is the clear definition. One is betting for the team’s positive outcome, and the other one is betting against the outcome of the team. And surprisingly, these are the two betting types that are eligible only on the football and cricket betting exchanges.

Odds for cricket betting
Cricket betting odds

The meaning of "back" and "lay" in cricket betting is the same as it is for other games. For example, consider the India vs Pakistan game of the World Cup. When you place a back bet for India, it means that you are backing India to win. Suppose you place a bet of 10 INR at odds of 2.1. And if India wins the game, you will get 21 INR along with the original stake.

On the other hand, lay bet means you are wagering for India not to win the game. So, if you bet 10 INR at odds of 2.5 and India loses the game, you get back 25 INR along with the original stake of 10 INR. This is what "back" and "lay" in cricket betting mean. If you believe you have the skills to predict a match winner, you can use the betting tips and place back and lay bets in IPL betting to win big.

अगर आप सोच रहे हैं कि what is meaning of back and lay in betting, तो मैं आपको बता देता हूँ। आसान शब्दों में, बैक का मतलब है किसी टीम पर दांव लगाना और उनके जीतने का अंदाज़ा लगाना। दूसरी तरफ, ले का मतलब है किसी टीम के मैच हारने का अंदाज़ा लगाना। तो, क्रिकेट में इंडिया बनाम पाकिस्तान के गेम को ही ले लीजिए। आप 3.0 के ऑड्स पर 100 INR का बैक बेट लगाते हैं।

इसका मतलब है कि अगर इंडिया गेम जीतता है, तो आपको अपने ओरिजिनल स्टेक के साथ 300 INR मिलेंगे। ले बेट की बात करें, तो मान लीजिए आप 3.0 के ऑड्स पर इंडिया के लिए 100 INR का ले बेट लगाते हैं। तो, अगर इंडिया गेम हार जाता है, तो आपको अपने ओरिजिनल स्टेक के साथ 300 INR वापस मिलेंगे। बेटिंग में बैक एंड ले का यही मतलब है।

FeatureBack BetLay Bet
TypeTraditionalOpposite
What it meansBet for an outcome to happenBet against an outcome to happen
ExampleBack Team India to WinLay team India not to win
ProfitYou win if your selection winsYou win if your selection loses
RiskLimited to the wager placedLiability can be higher than the stake

Back betting is a traditional form of betting. Here you back the team to win, and you risk only your stake. Lay betting is exactly the opposite. Here, you act like the bookmaker itself. You bet against an outcome and risk a higher liability. This form of betting is only applicable for exchanges because for every back bet, you must have a lay bet. It is for this reason that you can’t find a back and lay bet somewhere other than the exchanges.

Placing a back or a lay bet on an online betting site is very simple and easy. First, you have to select a bookmaker where there is an exchange. Next, follow these steps to place your bet on the exchange.

  1. Register an account in a cricket betting exchange;
  2. Deposit using UPI or Paytm in INR;
  3. Select a cricket match to place the bet;
  4. Choose a back or a lay betting option;
  5. Select the odds for your bet;
  6. Enter the amount you wish to bet;
  7. Place the bet on the game.

FAQ

What does lay mean in cricket betting?
Lay means to bet against the outcome of a game. For example, if you are betting in the India vs Pakistan game, placing a lay bet on India means to bet for India to lose the game. If India loses the game, then you will win the reward. Else, you will lose the bet.
Can I use Back and Lay in IPL?
Yes, you can use back and lay betting in IPL. But, you have to select a betting exchange where you can place a back and lay bet in IPL games.
Is Lay betting riskier than back?
Yes, lay betting is somewhat riskier than back betting. Here, you take the role of a bookmaker along with your potential loss. In simple words, your liabilities can be greater than your original stake.
How do odds differ in back and lay?
While the odds don’t differ, but for back bets, if your team wins, you win the rewards along with the stake. But, for a lay bet, if your team lose the bet, you get a backer’s stake along with your wager. Else, you have to pay back the backer’s wager. So, lay bet is somewhat risker.
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